Although it
stands to reason that all organs are important, there are some that need more
attention than others due to their vital role in keeping you healthy.
The kidney
is one of those – acting as a filtration system that essentially prevents all
the toxins from circulating in your system and damaging all other body parts.
Unfortunately,
the kidney is not indestructible. With a bad lifestyle, your kidney could be damaged
beyond repair and unless it is replaced, a non-working kidney can significantly
shorten your life span.
So what
exactly should you do to keep the kidney healthy? The first step is knowing
what NOT to do. Here are the top 12 habits you might not realize are destroying
your kidney.
#1 –
Insufficient Water Consumption
Kidney
damage starts with something as simple as not getting enough water in your
system. Understand that juice, coffee, tea, as well as other drinks do not
offer the same level of hydration as water. These
flavored drinks often contain sugar that taxes the organs more than it offers
hydration. Water
however is basic and therefore provided no additional materials that the kidney
must process but rather, it boosts the capability of the kidney to filter
toxins as well as aid with the distribution of vitamins as well as minerals all
over the body.
#2 – Smoking
Smoking is
always in the list of bad habits that can damage the kidney – as well as any
other organ in the body. In fact, smoking significantly increases the risk of
contracting kidney diseases.
#3 – Alcohol
Alcohol
stresses the kidneys due to the high amount of ingredients that the organ is
incapable of properly processing. Although
studies have shown that moderate amounts of liquor can help the overall system,
the keyword here is “moderate.” Ideally, you should drink no more than 1 glass
or 8 ounces of alcohol a day, preferably wine.
#4 –
Medications
Medications
are full of ingredients that can cause kidney damage, especially when taken in
high as well as frequent amounts. The organ is
incapable of processing all the unnatural ingredients, taxing its function and
essentially making it difficult for the kidney to operate. If you like
to take drugs for even simple as well as tolerable conditions (headaches,
stomachache), it is best to opt for natural methods first.
Protein is a
good thing, but not if you consume them in high dose amounts. Ideally, men
should consume only 56 grams per day while women are allowed 46 grams within 24
hours. Too much of
these and the metabolic capacity of the kidney is compromised, making it harder
for the organ to process everything that passes through.
#6 – Couch
Potato
You do not
need to exercise for two to three hours a day in order to protect your kidney. n some
cases, even just 5 minutes of extensive exercise can ensure that your kidney is
getting proper protection. Studies show that individuals who exercise have
lower chances of getting kidney stones Essentially,
being overweight is also a risk factor in kidney disease so exercise is a must.
#7 –
Insomnia
Long nights
of staying awake stress the whole body and not just the kidneys. Keep in mind
that sleep is the body’s way of recharging itself, giving the organs sufficient
time to regroup and get the energy they need to continue functioning the next
day. With
insufficient sleep therefore, you will be draining your kidney as well as other
organs of the capacity to do their job correctly. This leads
to some toxins passing through the filtration system and circulating in your
blood stream, causing health issues.
#8 –
Indulgence in Salt and Sugar
Salt as well
as sugar are both good for the body, but in high doses, they can cause
processing problems for the kidney. Ideally, you
should only consume around 2300 mg of salt per day. Consistent high intake can
lead to high blood pressure as well as chronic kidney disease. As for sugar,
you only need around 150 calories for men and 100 calories for women every day. That is equivalent
to 9 and 6 teaspoons respectively. Be aware that most food items today are
loaded with these two ingredients so read labels!
#9 –
Delaying Urine Release
Never deny
yourself the need to go to the bathroom. There have been reports of a woman who
tried to hold in her pee to win a contest and ended up dead. See, urine
is the body’s way of expelling bacteria and by holding it for long periods of
time; you are actually allowing the bacteria to breed instead of pushing them
all out at once. When they breed,
there is a good chance that they will go to other body organs with the kidney
being one of the nearest places to settle.
#10 – Diet
Deficiencies
To be fair,
all the organs will benefit from regular consumption of a balanced meal. The
kidney, on the other hand, likes this more than most because:
(1) it
manages to absorb the useful vitamins as well as minerals.
(2) it is tasked
with the job of separating the good part from the bad part.
A
well-balanced diet means that the kidney is getting lots of nutrients without
being too worked up with the amount of toxins it has to filter. More
specifically, you need to aim for a diet with lots of magnesium.
#11 –
Ignoring Cold and Flu
Studies show
that frequently felt flu as well as cold problems are indicators of a possibly
underlying health problem. It is
usually best to consult a doctor if you feel as though you are getting more
than your share of these “every day” bacteria or viruses. It could be
an indication of any vulnerability caused by toxin build up due to insufficient
kidney function.
#12 –
Ignoring Symptoms
Aside from
cold and flu, there are also other health problems that signal kidney problems.
If you happen to experience any of these, do not ignore them. The kidney
is resilient and the body is capable of self healing but only if it does not
reach a certain point.
Following
are the symptoms of having the ailment:
Changes in
urine colour
Loss of
breath
Fatigue
Bad breath
Leg and
waist pain
Swelling
Frequent
feelings of coldness
Dizziness
Vomiting
Itchy skin
Sources: 10312015
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